Measuring and Minimizing the Impact of Co-Band Mobility on Terrestrial Network Performance During Satellite Overpass

The present disclosure relates generally to mobile networks and relates more particularly to devices, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for measuring and minimizing the impact of co-band mobility on terrestrial network performance during satellite overpass.

In the field of mobile networking, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are networks for which at least a portion of the physical infrastructure is not anchored to the Earth's surface. NTNs stand in contrast to terrestrial networks (TNs), which are networks for which a majority, if not all, of the physical infrastructure is anchored to the Earth's surface. For instance, NTNs include satellite networks and networks that utilize unmanned aerial vehicles or high-altitude platform systems to provide broadband links, while TNs include Fourth Generation long term evolution (4G LTE) and Wi-Fi networks. NTNs are considered to be one of the major pillars of Fifth Generation (5G), Sixth Generation (6G), and next-generation mobile networks due to their ability to extend mobile network coverage to locations that are currently underserved by TNs.

In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for measuring and minimizing the impact of co-band mobility on terrestrial network performance during satellite overpass. For instance, in one example, a method includes recording a first bitrate of a data transfer session between a user endpoint device and a network element of a terrestrial mobile network, wherein the user endpoint device is locked into a radio frequency band of the terrestrial mobile network, recording a second bitrate of the data transfer session, during a test interval in which a satellite of a non-terrestrial network that shares the radio frequency band with the terrestrial mobile network is executing a function that generates a data transmission to generate full-bandwidth noise signals, calculating a difference between the first bitrate that is recorded and the second bitrate that is recorded, and initiating, in response to the difference exceeding a threshold, an action to modify a parameter of at least one of the terrestrial mobile network or the non-terrestrial network to reduce an effect of channel interference resulting from the sharing.

In another example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include recording a first bitrate of a data transfer session between a user endpoint device and a network element of a terrestrial mobile network, wherein the user endpoint device is locked into a radio frequency band of the terrestrial mobile network, recording a second bitrate of the data transfer session, during a test interval in which a satellite of a non-terrestrial network that shares the radio frequency band with the terrestrial mobile network is executing a function that generates a data transmission to generate full-bandwidth noise signals, calculating a difference between the first bitrate that is recorded and the second bitrate that is recorded, and initiating, in response to the difference exceeding a threshold, an action to modify a parameter of at least one of the terrestrial mobile network or the non-terrestrial network to reduce an effect of channel interference resulting from the sharing.

In another example, a device includes a processor and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include recording a first bitrate of a data transfer session between a user endpoint device and a network element of a terrestrial mobile network, wherein the user endpoint device is locked into a radio frequency band of the terrestrial mobile network, recording a second bitrate of the data transfer session, during a test interval in which a satellite of a non-terrestrial network that shares the radio frequency band with the terrestrial mobile network is executing a function that generates a data transmission to generate full-bandwidth noise signals, calculating a difference between the first bitrate that is recorded and the second bitrate that is recorded, and initiating, in response to the difference exceeding a threshold, an action to modify a parameter of at least one of the terrestrial mobile network or the non-terrestrial network to reduce an effect of channel interference resulting from the sharing.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.

In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for measuring and minimizing the impact of co-band mobility on terrestrial network performance during satellite overpass. As discussed above, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are networks for which at least a portion of the physical infrastructure is not anchored to the Earth's surface. NTNs stand in contrast to terrestrial networks (TNs), which are networks for which a majority, if not all, of the physical infrastructure is anchored to the Earth's surface. For instance, NTNs include satellite networks and networks that utilize unmanned aerial vehicles or high-altitude platform systems to provide broadband links, while TNs include Fourth Generation long term evolution (4G LTE) and Wi-Fi networks. NTNs are considered to be one of the major pillars of Fifth Generation (5G), Sixth Generation (6G), and next-generation mobile networks due to their ability to extend mobile network coverage to locations that are currently underserved by TNs. In one example of the present disclosure, an NTN may be used to extend the mobile coverage of an LTE or 5G network.

For instance, a mobile network operator may utilize an NTN to extend the coverage of a TN into a geographic area in which it may be impractical or infeasible to deploy the necessary TN infrastructure (such as a remote, uninhabited, or sparsely inhabited geographic area). In this case, the coverage of the TN may be extended using a direct cellular-to-satellite NTN. To support a direct connection from a subscriber's user endpoint device which uses commercially available cellular technology (e.g., 2G, LTE, 5G, 6G, or other cellular technology) to a satellite, the satellite may be required to use radio frequency bands that the user endpoint device is already designed to communicate with. Furthermore, the satellite may be required to use either unlicensed radio frequency bands or radio frequency bands that are licensed to the mobile network operator.

Use of radio frequency bands that are licensed to the mobile network operator may require co-channel operation of the TN and NTN systems, and both the TN and the NTN may experience interference if co-channel cellular signals are broadcast in the same geographic area, in adjacent or otherwise closely located geographic areas, or in adjacent channels that are co-located or in close proximity to the coverage area of the TN. Co-channel or adjacent channel interference may reduce the signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) of both the TN signals and the NTN signals, which may in turn degrade the spectral efficiencies of the TN and the NTN and ultimately lead to poor quality of experience for subscribers on either or both networks. However, because co-channel and adjacent channel interference are difficult to measure directly, the mobile network operator may not realize when interference is occurring or when the effects of the interference are likely to have a noticeable impact on quality of experience until the quality of experience has already suffered.

Examples of the present disclosure provide a way to estimate co-channel and adjacent channel interference when a TN and an NTN share a radio frequency band. In one example, a test device such as an off-the-shelf, cellular-enabled user endpoint device, may be placed within a terrestrial coverage area near the cell edge of the TN and locked into a radio frequency band of the TN that is under test (and that is also being utilized for transmissions by a satellite of an NTN). The test device may establish a data transfer session via the TN. Subsequently, during a test interval that overlaps with the data transfer session (where the test interval may be a predefined interval or an interval during which the satellite is detected to be passing overhead), the satellite that is passing overhead (or, alternatively, a terrestrial cellular base station such as an eNodeB) may activate an orthogonal channel noise simulator (OCNS) function that causes all physical resource blocks (PRBs) of the satellite signal to be used, thereby generating full-bandwidth “noise” signals in the satellite's terrestrial coverage area (within which the test device is positioned).

The bitrate of the data transfer session during the test interval may be logged as a time series and compared to the bitrate of the data transfer session outside of the test interval (e.g., when the test device is not generating the full-bandwidth noise signals) in order to estimate the effects of co-channel or adjacent channel interference on the throughput of the data transfer session (and on the broader customer experience). Once the co-channel or adjacent channel interference has been estimated, a remedial action may be initiated to minimize the co-channel or adjacent channel interference and thereby optimizing the quality of experience for subscribers who are currently connected to the NTN and/or TN.

Although examples of the present disclosure are described within the example use case of a single satellite that is capable of broadcasting in the coverage area of a TN for a brief period of time, these examples can be extended to use cases in which a satellite signal is continuously available within the coverage area of the TN. For instance, the power control and beam locations of the TN and NTN can be coordinated as needed for the use case being evaluated. Examples of the present disclosure can also be extended to use cases in which a constellation of multiple satellites is capable of broadcasting in the coverage area of a TN (e.g., where each satellite in the constellation may broadcast in the coverage area of a TN during different, potentially overlapping intervals). These and other aspects of the present disclosure are discussed in greater detail in connection with, below.

To better understand the present disclosure,illustrates an example network, related to the present disclosure. As shown in, the networkconnects mobile devicesand, as well as potentially other devices, with one another and with various other devices via a core network, a wireless access network(e.g., a cellular network), other networksand/or the Internet.

In one example, wireless access networkmay comprise a terrestrial network, such as a radio access network implementing such technologies as: global system for mobile communication (GSM), e.g., a base station subsystem (BSS), or IS-95, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network employing wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), or a CDMA3000 network, among others. In other words, wireless access networkmay comprise an access network in accordance with any “second generation” (2G), “third generation” (3G), “fourth generation” (4G), Long Term Evolution (LTE), “fifth generation” (5G), next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), or any other yet to be developed future wireless/cellular network technology including beyond 5G (e.g., 6G) and further generations. While the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of wireless access network, in the illustrative example, wireless access networkis shown as a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) subsystem. Thus, elements,, andmay each comprise a next generation Node B (gNodeB).

In one example, each of the mobile devicesandmay comprise any subscriber/customer endpoint device configured for wireless communication such as a laptop computer, a Wi-Fi device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smartphone, an email device, a computing tablet, a messaging device, a wearable smart device (e.g., a smart watch or fitness tracker, a pair of smart glasses or goggles, etc.), a gaming console, a drone, an autonomous vehicle (e.g., automobile, watercraft, or aircraft), and the like. In one example, any one or more of the mobile devicesandmay have both cellular and non-cellular access capabilities and may further have wired communication and networking capabilities.

As illustrated in, networkincludes a core network. In one example, core networkmay combine core network components of a cellular network with components of a triple play service network; where triple play services may include telephone services, Internet services and television services to subscribers. For example, core networkmay functionally comprise a fixed mobile convergence (FMC) network, e.g., an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In addition, core networkmay functionally comprise a telephony network, e.g., an Internet Protocol/Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) backbone network utilizing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for circuit-switched and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephony services. Core networkmay also further comprise a broadcast television network, e.g., a traditional cable provider network or an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, as well as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network. The network elementsA-C may serve as gateway servers or edge routers to interconnect the core networkwith other networks, Internet, wireless access network, other access networks, and so forth.

The core networkmay also comprise an application server (AS)and a database (DB)that may be configured to monitor and store the locations and movements of satellitesandof a non-terrestrial network, to monitor and analyze throughput statistics (e.g., bitrates of data transfers) experienced by the mobile devicesand, and/or to send instructions to the satellitesand, the mobile devicesand, and/or the network elements,, andto modify their operating parameters or conditions to minimize the effects of co-channel interference, as discussed in further detail below. In one example, a cellular base station (e.g., a gNode B)may communicatively couple the ASto a satellite receiverof the core network. The base stationsandmay be implemented within the satellitesand, respectively, or between the satellites satellite receiverand the core network(e.g., the application server) to convert the analog waveforms of cellular transmissions into digital format in the downlink (and to make the opposite conversion for the uplink). For ease of illustration, various additional elements of core networkare omitted from. For instance, core networkmay also include other network elements that are not illustrated, such as television (TV) servers, content servers, application servers, and the like.

In addition, the networkmay include the non-terrestrial networkthat functions in a manner similar to the terrestrial wireless access network. For instance, the non-terrestrial networkmay comprise an access network that provides broadband links via satellite, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude platform systems, or any other yet to be developed future wireless/non-terrestrial network technology. While the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of non-terrestrial network, in the illustrative example, non-terrestrial networkis shown as a satellite network. Thus, elementsandmay each comprise a satellite, such as an LEO satellite. In one example, the non-terrestrial networkmay be controlled and/or operated by a mobile network operator as the terrestrial wireless access network. In another example, the non-terrestrial networkmay be controlled and/or operated by a different entity than the mobile network operator who operates the terrestrial wireless access network.

In one particular example, the non-terrestrial networkmay utilize radio frequency bands that are also utilized by the terrestrial wireless access network(e.g., radio frequency bands that are licensed by a mobile network operator who operates the terrestrial wireless access network). As such, the terrestrial wireless access networkand the non-terrestrial networkmay operate in a co-channel arrangement.

In one example, the ASmay be configured to monitor the locations and movements (e.g., speed and trajectory of motion) of the satellitesandand to send commands to the mobile devicesandthat cause the mobile devices to activate a function to generate full-bandwidth noise signals during times that one of the satellitesoris expected to pass over one of the mobile devicesor(i.e., such that the mobile deviceoris within the terrestrial coverage area of the satelliteor). The ASmay further collect data relating to a data transfer session between the mobile deviceorand a device (e.g., application server) in the core network, one of the other networks, or in the Internet. The data relating to the data transfer may be collected both while the mobile deviceorhas activated the function to generate the full-bandwidth noise. Based on the data relating to the data transfer, the ASmay estimate the impact of co-channel or adjacent channel interference on the throughput of the data transfer and may initiate one or more remedial actions to minimize that impact.

As a more specific example, mobile devicemay be a test device that is connected to the terrestrial wireless access network. The mobile devicemay be placed at the edge of a cell of the terrestrial wireless access networkand may be locked into a radio frequency band of the terrestrial wireless access networkthat is to be tested. The ASmay communicate the radio frequency band that is to be tested to the mobile device.

The mobile devicemay then establish a data transfer session, via the terrestrial wireless access network, with another device (e.g., a server or another device in the core network, in one of the other networks, or in the Internet). Data about the data transfer session (e.g., bitrate) may be communicated to the AS, which may store the data about the data transfer session as a first time series in the DB.

The ASmay also monitor the location and movement of the satelliteof the non-terrestrial networkand may estimate, based on the monitoring, when the mobile deviceis expected to be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite. When the mobile deviceis expected to be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite, the ASmay send a command to the satelliteto activate a function, such as an orthogonal channel noise simulator (OCNS) function, to generate a full-bandwidth noise signal that causes all PRBs of the satellite signal to be utilized. Alternatively, the mobile devicemay autonomously determine when the mobile deviceis expected to be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satelliteand when the satelliteshould activate the function to generate the full-bandwidth nose signal. The time during which the function to generate the full-bandwidth noise signal is activated may be referred to as a test interval.

The mobile devicemay maintain the data transfer session, at at least a threshold bitrate (which in one example is a maximum available bitrate), during the test interval. That is, the mobile devicemay maintain the data transfer session while the function to generate the full-bandwidth noise signal is activated by the satellite. Data about the data transfer session (e.g., bitrate) may be communicated to the ASduring the test interval. The ASmay store the data about the data transfer session during the test interval as a second time series in the DB.

The ASmay compare the data about the data transfer session prior to the test interval (e.g., the first time series) to the data about the data transfer session during the test interval (e.g., the second time series) in order to estimate how the sharing of the radio frequency band by the terrestrial wireless access networkand the satelliteaffects the data transfer session. For instance, the ASmay determine that the throughput of the data transfer session is reduced when the radio frequency band is shared by the terrestrial wireless access networkand the satellite.

In response to a result of the comparison, the ASmay initiate an action to minimize the effects of the sharing. The action may involve sending a command to the satellite, to other mobile devices (e.g., mobile device), and/or to network elements of the terrestrial wireless access network(e.g., to elements,and/or) to modify their operating parameters. For instance, the ASmay send a command to the satelliteto cause the satelliteto adjust its transmit power allocation, may send a command to a network element (e.g., element,, or) of the terrestrial wireless access networkto adjust an antenna configuration to change the antenna gain factor, may send a command to a network element (e.g., satelliteor) of the non-terrestrial networkto change a Doppler shift of the non-terrestrial wireless network's serving signal in response to the rise or set of the satellite, may send a command to another user endpoint device connected to the terrestrial wireless access network (e.g., user endpoint device) to adjust a power usage of the user endpoint device, or the like.

The above-described operations may be repeated for a plurality of different radio frequency bands shared by the terrestrial wireless networkand the non-terrestrial network. The operations may also be repeated during subsequent test intervals for the same radio frequency band. Due to atmospheric fading phenomena, variations in test equipment configurations, and/or data upload sequences, subsequent iterations of the operations may produce varying results that collectively exhibit a similar trend. Execution, correlation, and aggregation of multiple sets of test data (e.g., multiple time series logged during different test intervals) may allow for the ASto detect more statistically significant trends, which may help to minimize the effects of transient conditions observed during any individual test interval.

Moreover, subsequent iterations of the operations with a large constellation of satellites and/or over a long period of time will produce a large data set with numerous parametric variables which are ideally suited to analysis via deep learning or other machine learning techniques. Analysis via machine learning would potentially enable a detailed understanding of satellite elevation angles, antenna gain factors, user endpoint device power usage, impacts of body or structure losses, and capacity limitations, among other factors, and of how those factors impact throughput and quality of experience. In further examples, analysis of the throughput measured during the test intervals may be used to infer the loss of spectral efficiency of the terrestrial wireless access network channel, the impact of SINR, and/or the reduction of the capacity of the terrestrial wireless access network within the terrestrial coverage areas of the satelliteand/or satellite.

It should be noted that as used herein, the terms “configure” and “reconfigure” may refer to programming or loading a computing device with computer-readable/computer-executable instructions, code, and/or programs, e.g., in a memory, which when executed by a processor of the computing device, may cause the computing device to perform various functions. Such terms may also encompass providing variables, data values, tables, objects, or other data structures or the like which may cause a computer device executing computer-readable instructions, code, and/or programs to function differently depending upon the values of the variables or other data structures that are provided.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the networkmay be implemented in a different form than that which is illustrated in, or may be expanded by including additional endpoint devices, access networks, network elements, application servers, etc. without altering the scope of the present disclosure. For example, core networkis not limited to an IMS network. Wireless access networkis not limited to a UMTS/UTRAN configuration. Non-terrestrial networkis not limited to a satellite network. Similarly, the present disclosure is not limited to an IP/MPLS network for VoIP telephony services, or any particular type of broadcast television network for providing television services, and so forth.

To further aid in understanding the present disclosure,illustrates a flowchart of an example methodfor estimating the impact of co-channel interference on mobile network throughput, in accordance with the present disclosure. In one example, the methodmay be performed by a network element management system or application server of a mobile network operator core network, such as the ASillustrated in. However, in other examples, the methodmay be performed by another device, such as the processorof the systemillustrated in. For the sake of example, the methodis described as being performed by a processing system.

The methodbegins in step. In step, the processing system may lock into a radio frequency band that is being transmitted by a terrestrial mobile network.

In one example, when the processing system locks onto the radio frequency band, the processing system is “listening” for signals that are broadcast in the radio frequency band. In one example, the radio frequency band comprises a radio frequency band that is licensed by a mobile network operator who operates the terrestrial mobile network. As discussed in further detail below, the radio frequency band may also be utilized by a non-terrestrial network, such as a cellular-to-satellite NTN.

The processing system in this example may be part of a user endpoint device, where the user endpoint device may, in one example, comprise any subscriber/customer endpoint device configured for wireless communication, such as a laptop computer, a Wi-Fi device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smartphone, an email device, a computing tablet, a messaging device, a wearable smart device (e.g., a smart watch or fitness tracker, a pair of smart glasses or goggles, etc.), a gaming console, a drone, an autonomous vehicle (e.g., automobile, watercraft, or aircraft), and the like.

In one example, the terrestrial mobile network may comprise a radio access network implementing such technologies as: global system for mobile communication (GSM), e.g., a base station subsystem (BSS), or IS-95, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network employing wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), or a CDMA3000 network, among others. In other words, the terrestrial mobile network may comprise an access network in accordance with any “second generation” (2G), “third generation” (3G), “fourth generation” (4G), Long Term Evolution (LTE), “fifth generation” (5G), next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), or any other yet to be developed future wireless/cellular network technology including beyond 5G and further generations.

In one example, the processing system is physically located within a predefined distance of the edge of a cell that is served by the terrestrial mobile network. The precise physical location of the processing system may be determined to be within the coverage area and at a signal level that the mobile network operator wishes to test for channel interference.

In step, the processing system may establish a data transfer session via the terrestrial mobile network while locked into the radio frequency band. In one example, the data transfer session may be established using any one or more known communication protocols to establish a bi-directional data transfer session. In a further example, the data transfer session may comprise at least one of: a voice session or a data session. For instance, the data transfer session may involve a voice call, a data (e.g., multimedia) call, a data (e.g., video, audio, or the like) streaming session, a data transfer (e.g., multimedia download) session, and/or another type of data transfer session.

In one example, a duration of the data transfer session may be dynamically controlled to be of sufficient length to maintain at least a threshold data rate over the connection to the terrestrial mobile network over the duration of the data transfer session (where the threshold data rate may comprise an average data rate over the data transfer session, a peak data rate, a minimum data rate, or the like). In another example, the duration of the data transfer session may be predefined, in which case the duration may be a duration that is empirically determined to be of sufficient length to maintain at least the threshold data rate over the connection to the terrestrial mobile network over the duration of the data transfer session.

In another example, the complexity of the data transfer session may be controlled to ensure that the data rate of the data transfer session at least meets the threshold data rate over the connection to the terrestrial mobile network over the duration of the data transfer session. For instance, the data transfer session may favor more bitrate intensive applications, such as streaming of higher quality (resolution) video, over less bitrate intensive applications, such as streaming of lower quality video.

In one example, the data transfer session may be automated to repeatedly download and/or upload a specified file, such as a test file of a defined size, using randomized data to prevent the automatic application of data compression techniques (which would reduce the demand on the connection to the terrestrial mobile network).

In step, the processing system may, in response to detecting a start of a test interval during which a satellite of a non-terrestrial network that is sharing the radio frequency band activates a function to generate a full-bandwidth noise signal, measure a bitrate of the data transfer session. In one example, detecting the start of the test interval may comprise detecting when a current time coincides with the start time of a scheduled test interval. For instance, in cases where the radio frequency band is shared with an NTN that includes a geostationary satellite, periodic test intervals may be predefined according to a schedule.

In another example, detecting the start of the test interval may involve detecting when a satellite of the NTN is passing (or is within a threshold distance of passing) overhead. The satellite may comprise a portion of the physical infrastructure of the NTN, where the NTN may comprise a plurality of satellites including the satellite.

For instance, in cases where the radio frequency band is shared with an NTN that includes a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite may constantly change due to changes in the satellite's physical location and angular altitude as the satellite orbits the Earth's surface. Thus, the physical location of the processing system may be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite at some times and outside the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite at other times. In one example, the processing system may detect when the processing system is within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite (e.g., by detecting signals in the radio frequency band that are emitted by the satellite), which may indicate that the test interval should start. In another example, a remote application server or other devices may track the position of the satellite relative to the processing system and may send a command to the processing system to begin the test interval when the processing system is expected to be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite.

In one example, a time at which the user endpoint device is expected to be physically located within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite may be estimated based on knowledge of at least one of: the physical location of the user endpoint device, the current location of the satellite, the current trajectory of the satellite, or the current speed of motion of the satellite. In one example, the estimate may be generated using a machine learning algorithm (such as a support vector machine, a neural network, a Bayes network, a decision tree, or the like) that takes any one or more of the aforementioned parameters as input and generates as an output the time at which the user endpoint device is expected to be physically located within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite.

In one example, the function that generates the full-bandwidth noise signals may be an OCNS function of the satellite. The OCNS function, when activated, may cause all physical resource blocks (PRBs) of the signal from the satellite to be utilized, which results in the generation of the full-bandwidth noise signal in a portion of the satellite's terrestrial coverage surrounding the processing system.

In optional step(illustrated in phantom), the processing system may log the bitrate of the data transfer session as a time series over the test interval. In one example, the processing system may monitor the bitrate of the data transfer session over the test interval, as discussed above. The bitrate may be logged as a time series and stored locally, e.g., in a memory of a user endpoint device of which the processing system is a part.

In one example, it may be expected that the time series will show a reduction in the throughput of the data transfer session during the test interval. This reduction in throughput may be largely due to the full-bandwidth noise signal that the satellite is generating, which will reduce the SINR of the signals emitted by the terrestrial mobile network in the radio frequency band. As discussed in further detail below, the time series may be correlated with the pass of the satellite of the NTN in order to infer the overall effects of the NTN interference on the throughput of the terrestrial mobile network.

Stepmay be considered an optional step because, in some examples, the bitrate of the data transfer session may be measured and logged by a remote device, such as a probe or an application server that monitors the data transfer session. In such an example, the processing system may need only to maintain the data transfer session while the function to generate the full-bandwidth noise signal is activated by the satellite, and the remote device will monitor and log the bitrate during the test interval.

In step, the processing system may detect an end of the test interval. In one example, detecting the end of the test interval may comprise detecting when a current time coincides with the end time of a scheduled test interval. For instance, as discussed above, in cases where the radio frequency band is shared with an NTN that includes a geostationary satellite, periodic test intervals may be predefined according to a schedule. Alternatively, detecting the end of the test interval may comprise detecting when a current time coincides with a predefined period of time after a satellite of the NTN has passed overhead. This approach enables the establishment of a “reverse baseline” by measuring conditions free of an interfering signal, observing the impact of the addition of the interfering signal on the conditions, and then measuring the impact of the removal of the interfering signal on the conditions.

In another example, detecting the end of the test interval may involve detecting when a satellite of the NTN is no longer passing (or is within a threshold distance of no longer passing) overhead. For instance, as discussed above, in cases where the radio frequency band is shared with an NTN that includes a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite may constantly change due to changes in the satellite's angular altitude. Thus, physical location of the processing system may be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite at some times and outside the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite at other times. In one example, the processing system may detect when the processing system is no longer within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite (e.g., by no longer detecting signals in the radio frequency band that are emitted by the satellite), which may indicate that the test interval should end. In another example, a remote application server or other devices may track the position of the satellite relative to the processing system and may send a command to the processing system to end the test interval when the processing system is expected to no longer be within the terrestrial coverage area of the satellite.